come unglued

idiom

US, informal
1
: to become extremely upset or angry
She came unglued when they refused her request.
2
: to fail suddenly or completely
Their marriage came unglued soon after the baby was born.

Examples of come unglued in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The plan for a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada having come unglued, a blue ribbon panel recently recommended selection of a new candidate site on the basis of a more consensual political process. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Feb. 2012 Every Tesla Cybertruck ever sold is being recalled so Tesla can fix an exterior panel that could potentially come unglued and detach while driving. Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025 Even Jordan would likely come unglued without the Hashemite monarchy to bind together its disparate parts. Joshua Landis, Foreign Affairs, 19 Jan. 2016 Why have donors, the media, public officials and voters come unglued after seeing the president falter in his first debate against his rival? Michelle Etlin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024 The adhesive on one of the box’s seals had come unglued, allowing for more airflow for Galena. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024 Old tight democracies can come unglued in trying to meet a novel and serious criminal challenge to the basic survival of democracy. Ronn Pineo, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2024 Lilly’s latest deal might come unglued Eli Lilly wants to pay $1.4 billion for Point Biopharma, maker of cancer drugs that deliver a focused dose of radiation to tumor cells. Damian Garde, STAT, 7 Dec. 2023 Their routines come unglued when Diane observes Teresa, a Maltese home-care aide next door, sparking a quasi-romantic obsession. Hamilton Cain, Washington Post, 8 July 2023

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come unglued.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20unglued. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!